Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA) Practice Exam

Which of the following changes in muscle length and tension are associated with a muscle spindle and a Golgi tendon?

1. MS - rapid muscle length change, GT - increase in muscle tension

2. MS - decrease in muscle tension, GT - slow muscle length change

3. Slow muscle length change, GT - decrease in muscle tension

4. MS - increase in muscle tension, GT - fast muscle length change

The correct answer is: MS - rapid muscle length change, GT - increase in muscle tension

Muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs are both crucial proprioceptors that play distinct roles in the body’s ability to sense changes in muscle length and tension. Muscle spindles are sensitive to changes in muscle length and the rate of that change. They provide information about the stretch of the muscle, particularly during rapid lengthening, which is crucial for reflex actions and maintaining posture. When a muscle lengthens quickly, the muscle spindles are activated, signaling the nervous system about this rapid alteration. This is why the association of muscle spindles with a rapid muscle length change is accurate. On the other hand, Golgi tendon organs are located at the junction of muscles and tendons and are sensitive to the tension generated by muscle contraction. They are activated when there is an increase in muscle tension, especially during activities such as lifting weights or during high-intensity exercises. The Golgi tendon organs send signals to the central nervous system to help regulate muscle tension and prevent excessive force that could lead to injury. Thus, the correct answer encapsulates these functions clearly by linking the muscle spindle with its role in detecting rapid muscle length changes and the Golgi tendon organ with an increase in muscle tension. This understanding is essential for grasping how the